Hull construction



Dec. 11, 1934. A, BERARDINELLI 1,983,964

' HULL CONSTRUCTION Filed July 28, 1931 2 SheetsSheet l 33% ,ii a.

Dec. 11, 1934.

A. BERARDINELLI HULL CONSTRUCTION Filed July 28, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Patented Dec. 11, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HULL CONSTRUCTIONAlfredo Berardinelli, Genoa, Italy Application July 28, 1931, Serial No.553,637 In Italy July 29, 1930 3 Claims. (Cl. 114-79) The presentinvention relates to improvements be assembled from these materials atanother in the construction of lightweight hulls, particutime andplace.larly suitable for small ships capable of high 5. The simplifiedconstruction embodied in my speeds, or hydroplanes. invention will lowerproduction costs, as the 5 The preferred practical application of thiscomponent parts are reduced to a few distinct 5 invention embodies amain framework, a secondelements which can be suitably standardized aryframework and an exterior skin consisting irrespective of the type ofhull to be constructed. of relatively thin plates. The main framework I6. A hull constructed according to my invenconsists of longitudinal andtransverse girders tion permits the use of ordinary steels suitablyarranged and proportioned to resist substantially coated to preventcorrosion and eliminates the 10 all longitudinal and transverse stressesindenecessity of making the plates of special and pendently of theexterior skin. The secondary more expensive alloys. framework consistsof stringers suitably ar- 7. The present construction of the hullrenranged to give further support to the thin plates ders all partseasily accessible for inspection and to supplement the latter inresisting local and maintenance, and facilitates local repairs 15stresses resulting from pressure and shock. to the hull and thereplacing of defective or In practicing my invention, the secondarydamaged plates. framework serving as supporting and reinforc- Theaccompanying drawings illustrate, by way ing means for the plates, alsoconstitutes means of example, the practical embodiment of the forattaching the plates to the main framework. invention, in which the sameletters or numerals 20 The main framework comprises a system of identifythe same parts throughout. light longitudinal and transverse members ar-Figure 1 representsa partial plan view of the ranged to resistsubstantially all longitudinal bottom of a hull, which for simplicity isasand transverse stresses independently of the exsumed to be flat;

ternal plating. The skin of the hull, that is, Fig. 2 is a plan view ofpart of the skin of 25 the bottom, Sides and d ck plating, is subdividedthe hull, the main framework, and the secondary into plates of suitablethickness and dimenframework in assembled condition; sions, which arearranged to suit the particu- Fig, 3 is a, section taken along linesIII-III lar requirements of each type and size of hull. of Fig, 2;

Depending on the function and location of each Fi 4 i a, e ti alonglines IV--IV of Fig.

plate, the secondary structure may comprise: 2; d a system of lightlongitudinal and transverse Fi 5 i id iew of latti e girder demembersassisting the external plating in resistsigned t t k up th longitudinalstrains of ing local hydrodynamic and impact stresses, th h 11 m ans f rjoining th p s together SO as to Referring to the practical embodimentof my 35 form a continuous water-tight skin, means for invention n t t di th drawings; securing bulk heads within the framework, and The Skin oft mm is composed of 1 mfinally means for securing each plate to the ityof thin plates, 11., b, c, d-d, e, f, g-e, f, h, i--

main framework. 1), c, 7', 1-2, h, m, 17. etc. Amo g h advantagesafforded by the present The hull is suitably divided by bulk heads 1. 40inve t are the following I The secondary framework of the hull com- 1.The plates constituting the skin of the hull prises stringers 4 5 6 andmay be made of any ordinary material instead of The, main, primaryframework omprises Special metalstransverse latticed girders 2, lighterinterme- 2. A hull constructed in accordance with my diate girders 3 andlongitudinally extending t- 45 invention has a high resistance tostresses as ticed girders 7 (girders 2 are provided t the latter aretaken up by continuous members. top members Ang1e irons 10 are providedt A hull Constructed in accordance with my connect the external platingwith the divisional invention has a stronger and smoother exterior bulkheads 1 skin due to the elimination of external riveting. The p t a, b,c, d t are made of any t- 50 4- My invention ma possible h n u ablesize. These plates are secured to the section of the hull in differentplaces and at difondary framework by electric welding to avoid ferenttimes, that is, the plates and the elean irregular or broken outersurface. The edges ments constituting the framework may be conof theplates do not overlap but meet on and structed at one place and time,andthe hull may are electrically welded to the outer flanges of thestringers 5, 6 and 8. Stringers 4 are positioned intermediate the edgesof the plates and are suitably electrically welded thereto, for example,at intervals.

ransverse girders 2, 3 of the main framework are secured to the innerflanges of stringers 4, 5 and 6 by riveting and/or welding.

The upstanding flange of stringer 8 may be suitably secured to thelatticed girders 7.

Girders 2 are arranged at suitable distances apart. Intermediate girders3 are arranged closer together.

stringers 4 are intended to give further support to the plates and tosupplement the latter in resisting local stresses resulting from shockand pressure.

Stringers 5, 6 and 8 serving as boundary members for the platesconstituting the skin of the hull assist the plating in resisting localhydrodynamic and impact stresses. These stringers also serve as meansfor connecting each plate to the adjacent ones so as to form acontinuous water-tight skin for the hull, and means for connecting eachplate to the main framework.

The main framework comprising girders 2, 3 and '7 are connected byriveting and/or welding to form a rigid structure proportioned to resistsubstantially all longitudinal and transverse stresses independently ofthe external plating, which can thus be made very thin.

The component parts of the hull may be him ricated as follows: theexternal plating constituting the skin of the hull is first developedand cut into portions of suitable dimensions, after which it isassembled into panels by electrically welding the secondary framework toeach plate. If desirable, these panels may be electrolytically plated toprevent corrosion. The elements comprising the main framework, such asthe keel, longitudinal girders, transverse girders and bulk heads areassembled into a complete internal structure on which the panelscomprising the outer skin are then superimposed by connecting thevarious stringers comprising the secondary framework to the adjacentmembers of the main framework by means of riveting and/or welding. Thepreferred method of securing the assembled secondary framework andplating to the main framework consists in riveting or welding theflanges of the stringers to the flanges of the adjacent members of themain framework with the faces of the respective flanges in abuttingrelation as shown, for example, in Fig. 3. The plates are preferablyarranged in rows, the plates in each row being staggered with respect tothe plates in the adjoining row.

In general, continuous line welding is preferred in securing the platesto the stringers constituting the boundary members, to make sure thatthe external skin will furnish a water-tight covering for the hull. Spotwelding may be used to connect the intermediate stringers 4 to theplating. Spot welding or riveting may be used to connect the secondaryframework to the main framework. Riveted connections may be used in themain framework. With this construction, the outer skin will not beperforated by rivets so that its strength will be unimpaired and willhave a smooth external surface offering less frictional resistance tothe exterior fluid.

Although for descriptive reasons the present invention has been based onthe preceding specification and on the accompanying drawings, yet manypractical modifications may be made in the solution of the problem, allthese modifications beingbased on the fundamental principles of theinvention as set forth in the following claims.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my saidinvention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare thatwhat I claim is:

1. A hull construction comprising a main framework having longitudinallyand transversely extending flanged members, a secondary framework offlanged stringers, and an exterior skin consisting of a plurality ofpanels formed of thin plates reinforced by said stringers, said panelsbeing fastened to said main framework by securing the flanges of saidstringers to the flanges of the adjacent members of the main frameworkwith the faces of the rerespective flanges in abutting relation.

2. A construction for light hulls, suitable for ships, hydroplanes andthe like, comprising a main framework consisting of a plurality ofcontinuous main longitudinal girders and transverse frames, said girdersand frames being provided with flanges running along the faces of thehull, a secondary framework of flanged stringers, and an outer skinsubdivided into panels formed by thin plates reinforced by saidstringers in closely spaced relation and Welded to said plates, saidpanels being fastened to said framework by welding the flanges of saidstringers to the flanges of the adjacent girders and frames with thefaces of the respective flanges in abutting relation.

3. A hull construction comprising a main framework having longitudinallyand transverse- 1y extending flanged members arranged and proportionedto resist substantially all longitudinal and transverse stresses set upin the hull, and an external skin for the hull composed of a pluralityof thin plates, each of said plates being reinforced by flangedstringers interposed between said main framework and said skin andarranged to give further support to the skin and to supplement thelatter in resisting local stresses resulting from pressure or shock, thestringers and the members of the main framework being secured togetherthrough their flanges with the faces of the flanges in abuttingrelation.

ALFREDO BERARDINELLI.

